Real-Life Cheats and Life Hacks

41 of the Best Real-Life Cheats

We're always looking for the best life hacks, but this Reddit thread did the work for us and rounded up 80 of the most popular life cheats suggested by commenters. Take these tips with a grain of salt; we did our best to filter out the NSFW, illegal, and seemingly ridiculous ones (it is Reddit after all).

Skip ads: When you're watching a DVD, hit stop, stop, then play to skip ads and head straight to the movie. If hitting stop twice doesn't work, hit it three times before you hit play.

Skip the operator: Dial 0 to go straight to the operator. If that doesn't work, "mashing buttons" can work, too. Or you can keep saying "representative" if the system is voice automated. You can also use the site GetHuman.com.

Biking benefits: You can save a lot of money on gas, parking, and gym memberships by adopting a bicycle as a mode of transportation.

For worn-out credit cards: If the magnetic stripe is worn out from use, you can cover it in a plastic bag before swiping. You can also cover the stripe with cellophane tape instead.

Avoid the voicemail intructions: Press 1 to skip the voicemail introduction and go straight to leaving a voicemail. If that doesn't work, hit *. And if that still doesn't work, press #. This is called the one-star-pound strategy, and it should work for all carriers.

Cold-shower perks: Toward the end of your shower, use colder water to wash yourself. This will refresh you and get blood flowing. Further, it also closes your pores, which will prevent more dirt and bacteria from seeping into your skin and wil help with acne issues.

Macy's discount: Macy's credit cards generally can get you a 20 percent discount on your buys. It also works with JC Penney and Kohl's cards. What you can do is pay with the store credit card, then pay the bill immediately off with your debit card. Users of store credit cards need to be really careful, and you should only sign up for them if you are responsible and can pay it off immediately.

Promo codes: Google promo codes before you buy anything online because you can usually get deals like free shipping or even up to 25 percent off your purchase.

Restart: Something's not working right? Turn it off, then turn it on again. This is the first thing customer reps usually have you try out before they try other solutions.

The right time to buy things: Buy items out of season to save money, but for food, you need to buy it in season to save.

Forgeting names: If you've forgotten someone's name, you should say, "I'm sorry, but what was your name again?" Once they give you their first name, reply with a "No, I meant your last name." You'll have the first and last name of the person without offending anyone.

Easy way to eat wings: Detach bones from the wings to eat boneless chicken wings. Watch the video below to see the process.

Peel an orange: Gently roll the orange around to loosen the peel from the fruit. This will make it easier to remove the peel.

Find your car: Place your car key under your chin, and the "signal will resonate in your skull increasing the range dramatically." With this trick, you can unlock your car to get it to beep to find its location. It apparently is safe because "the radiation is nonionizing."

Keep rolls in boxes: There are small push-in tabs on the sides of Saran wrap and aluminum foil boxes. Once you push it in, the roll won't fall out when you try to pull out a sheet.

Lost credit cards: Save credit card phone numbers in your phone so you can immediately contact your bank if you lose your wallet. Call to put a hold on the card immediately.

Gas tank location: If you're driving a car you're not used to and you're not sure which side the gas tank it's on, it's generally opposite the side of the tail pipe.

Overflowing toilet: If the toilet starts to overflow, take the lid off the back of the toilet, and lift the long handle up high, and the water will stop rising and go back down.

Peel an egg: Roll an egg around until the shell is cracked throughout. It'll be easier to remove the whole shell at once. If you place the boiled egg in cold water right after you boil it, the shell will also slip off more easily.

Carpet stains: Pour salt immediately on a fresh stain on your carpet. Rub it in and leave it in for a few hours to a day, and then vacuum it out.

Remember where you parked: Take a photo of closest parking sign to where you parked so you won't forget the location.

Dead car battery: If you drive a stick shift, put it in second gear, and push the clutch down. Get your friends to push the car, and when you get the car moving at a good speed, you should let the clutch up. This method is called popping the clutch.

Get rid of fizz: Tap the side of the can to get rid of the fizz so the carbonated liquid doesn't erupt when you open the can.

Peel a banana: It's easier to peel the banana from the bottom. It's actually how monkeys open a banana!

Pour soda: Pour soda along the side of the cup and not directly into it. This conserves the fizziness of the soda.

Emergency flush: If the toilet is clogged and there isn't a plunger, add liquid hand soap or dish soap, let it soak for five minutes, and try to flush again. If it still doesn't flush, try the steps again but add hot water this time.

Navigate the mall: Take a photo of the mall directory and map so you don't have to head back to it to figure out how to get to other stores.

Avoid trolling: Before leaving a comment on the Internet, read it twice before you post it and question what you're trying to accomplish with the comment.

Gender of baby: If you're not sure of the gender of a baby, ask the baby, "What's your name?" The parent will answer and hopefully the name will help you figure out if it is a boy or girl.

Freeze a sneeze: To stop a sneeze, use your tongue to tickle the roof of your mouth.

Morning reminder: If you want to remember something in the morning, place it in your shoes if they are clean. It works the best if you wear the same pair of shoes daily.

Morning break: If possible, have 30 minutes of downtime in the morning after you get ready to help set the tone for the rest of the day. Of course, this might mean you'll have to get up earlier.

Truly listen to someone: When someone is venting, let them reflect on it, hold back your own thoughts, and listen. Be there for them and don't add in your own thoughts and feelings about your own situation. You may think it'll make the other person feel better by establishing camaraderie with them, but for most people, they just want someone to empathize with them and listen.

Check to see if someone is listening: If you suspect someone's mind is elsewhere during your conversation, cross your arms. If they cross their arms that means they are paying attention.

Listen to music during boring tasks: When doing something you don't like or a boring task such as cleaning, listen to music and it'll make the experience more enjoyable.

Bread keeps baked goods moist: If you have to store cookies and pastries in a container, leave bread in the container, and it will keep the baked goods moist.

Reduce stair creaks: By walking on the sides of the stairs, you will lessen or avoid creaking sounds.

Be more likeable: Talk to everyone like they're your best friend, and smile a lot.

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1 year

How drunk do you have to be to not remember whether or not you just shampooed your hair?

1 year

walk on the sides of stairs to reduce creaks? Sure. why not just hover?

1 year

"Dead car battery: If you drive a stick shift, put it in second gear, and push the clutch down. Get your friends to push the car, and when you get the car moving at a good speed, you should let the clutch up. This method is called popping the clutch."

Remember to actually "pop" the clutch. As soon as the vehicle jerks forward, press the clutch all the way back in, otherwise you will damage the transmission.